What to Watch This Weekend: August 30, 2019

In Theaters: Ready or Not
Out review said that “Ready or Not tells a twisted tale with plenty of dark humor.”  The movie actually came out last week, but it is still my favorite of the recent releases and definitely worth a watch.  

In Theaters (Bonus): The Matrix
The Matrix is coming back to theaters for limited time starring this weekend. Go catch this classic on the big screen and relive this revolutionary film.

At Redbox: Rocketman
Our review said that “Rocketman is a spectacle with fantastic music and a phenomenal performance by Taron Egerton.” If you missed it in theaters, make sure to grab it from Redbox!

Streaming (Showtime): Peppermint
Jennifer Garner makes her action debut as a mom out for revenge.  The movie has a very Man on Fire vibe and seeing Garner in a different role is fun to watch.

Streaming (Amazon): Juliet, Naked
This heartwarming romantic comedy stars Rose Bryne and Ethan Hawks as an unlikely when Bryne develops a transatlantic relationship with Hawks, a once famous but now washed-up musician.

Review: Don't Let Go

Release date: August 30, 2019
Running time: 103 minutes
Starring:  David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Mykelti Williamson

Don't Let Go is kind of like Frequency and Butterfly Effect rolled into one.  In it, Detective Jack Radcliff (Oyelowo) must do all he can to solve the murder of his niece Ashley (Reid).  He is helped in this seemingly impossible task by a call from the past that can affect the present.  

The premise of this film is interesting, and gives you a feeling of suspense by adding the pressure of events happening in parallel in Ashley's time having very real and unintended consequences in Jack's time.  There are some interesting ways that both Jack and Ashley communicate what is going on, and the added uncertainty of the cell phone gives pressure on Jack.  Did the call just drop or did something terrible happen?  The film has a definite style that is muted and understated, which does a good job of setting up the important images and letting the viewer ignore what isn't necessary.

However, this film has some issues that made me scratch my head.  The most noticeable is that for a detective, Jack seems to have a very poor sense of police procedure.  There are some scenes where he follows what I imagine are best practices, but other times when he touches evidence and contaminates the crime scenes that just made me cringe.  And there are some inconsistent parts with his character, like when he notices someone who is dead and simply ignores them because he is focused on his current mission.  This was especially off-putting in an early scene in the film.  The story does a good job of building up for the first time travel reveal, but unfortunately feels like it rushes to a conclusion.  I kind of wanted to have a few more time hops to really develop some of the ideas, but it seems like the filmmakers just wanted to move the film along after setting the stage.  And, in the end, the story feels kind of unsatisfying because of this.  

Don't Let Go has an interesting premise, think Frequency meets the Butterfly Effect.  It has an engaging, suspenseful story that is hampered by a rushed conclusion and internal inconsistencies.  

Rent it

Screening: IT CHAPTER TWO

IT CHAPTER TWO

In theaters September 6

Rated R

Cast: James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Teach Grant, and Bill Skarsgård, Andy Bean, Jaeden Martell Wyatt Oleff, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer

Director: Andy Muschietti

Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, “It Chapter Two” brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.

Screening Details:

IT: CHAPTER TWO
Tuesday, September 3
7:00PM

AMC Mazza Gallerie

5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Screening Link:

http://www.wbtickets.com/usNjv43644

Be sure to Like and Follow Watch or Pass and share with your friends!

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.

Review: Ready or Not

Release date: August 21, 2019
Running time: 95 minutes
Starring:  Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien 

Ready or not, here it comes. Ready or Not is a new thriller with dark comedy elements that depicts a deadly game of hide and seek. When new bride Grace learns of her in-law’s family tradition of playing a game on any family member's wedding night, she thinks it’s a silly ritual but plays along to appease them. However, after the game begins, she quickly learns that there is more than her new parents approval on the line.

The first thing you notice about Ready or Not is the imagery.  The film is set in a classic estate with all the creepy touches that you would expect: secret passages, hidden elevators, and medieval weapons abound.  Additionally, because the family acquired its money from early century board games, the film does a fantastic job of evoking that feel.  The board games and images are beautifully illustrated and feel like they were plucked from the 1920s, as does a special song that plays during the movie. The film really nails this setting and it helps to transport you into this twisted house and its deadly game.  This transformation is further assisted by some stellar performances, most notably from Samara Weaving and Adam Brody.  Weaving is captivating as the new bride thrust into a strange situation and Brody is refreshing to watch.  And finally, the film is compact and doesn't overstay its welcome.

For a film that was marketed more on the horror side, there is a lot of dark humor throughout.  There are several jokes with multiple meanings, and some pretty gruesome imagery used for laughs.  This might be off putting to some, but I really enjoyed it and thought it gave the film a unique charm.  Think Clue but more gruesome.  Additionally, some of the characters become slightly ridiculous towards the end of the film, and one person’s transitions seems out of character.  But if you can get past these minor issues and your humor strays on the darker side, then you will love this movie.

Ready or Not tells a twisted tale with plenty of dark humor.  The setting is fantastic, the imagery feels authentic, and the performances give this deadly game a unique charm that will make you want to play again.  

Watch it

Deal: Three years of Disney+ for $3.92 per month (reg. $6.99 per month)

Disney+ is going hard after streamers trying to bring as many people as possible into the Disney fold.  Not only is its monthly price undercutting Netflix ($6.99 vs. $8.99) but it recently announced that the platform will include 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Atmos streams at no extra cost.  However, Disney is really going for the jugular in this recent deal.  

Thanks to Slickdeals for pointing out an amazing deal for three years of Disney+ service.  Those that are interested in signing up for three years can get the service for $3.92 per month vs. the regular price of $6.99 per month.  You have to be a D23 member (which is free to join) to take advantage of this deal.  Sign up at D23's website, and then click on "My Account" and "View Account."  It can take up to 36 hours for the deal to show up, but if you do it correctly you should see the following offer:

Click Redeem Now, create a Disney+ account, pay $140.97, and you're good to go!  

There is definitely some risk here.  First, you can't cancel this.  You are stuck with Disney+ for 3 years.  Additionally you can only do the Disney+ separate stream; you can't combine this with the $12.99 bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+.  And, Disney has been kind of vague on everything the service will have to offer.  We know of some new series, plans for future movies, some Disney and Fox classics, and the inclusion of the Simpsons, but you are signing up on the faith that Disney will deliver.  But that being said, just with what has already been announced, I'm pretty sure that you can get $4 of entertainment from Disney+.  

TLDR: Three years of Disney+ streaming prepaid for $3.92 per month.  Sign up at D23's website, click "My Account", "View Account", and if you have the offer click Redeem Now!

Review: Angel Has Fallen

Release date: August 23, 2019
Running time: 120 minutes
Starring:   Gerard Butler, Piper Perabo, Morgan Freeman 

Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman are back in the third movie in this trilogy.  This time, Butler will need to protect the President at an extreme disadvantage.  Not only is Butler facing insurmountable odds, but he also has to fight his aging body and inner demons. 

Angel Has Fallen gets a lot of things right. The action is pretty spectacular, especially some of the suspenseful, quiet scenes and an unconventional chase scene.  And as you would expect from a summer action movie, the effects are big and explosive. Additionally, Butler and Freeman have great chemistry, although the rest of the cast is adequate but slightly off.  The third film in this trilogy also manages to meaningful advances the characters that we have met from the previous films.  I did like what they did with Butler to humanize him and give him some choices that don't involve shooting.  

However, the problem with Angel Has Fallen is that the story makes no sense.  Now, I imagine if you are watching this movie you don't necessarily care so much about the story.  But at times, the nonsensical nature of the plot and character's choices just distract from the enjoyment.  The movie is good for the first third, but once the movie attempts to explain the character's motivations, the film falls apart. The antagonists make some ridiculous decisions that defy logic but do make for good action scenes.  Not that this film should be believable, but the ridiculousness is distracting at times. And there are several little details like characters accents or ages not lining up that distract as well.  

Angel Has Fallen is a fun action movie that suffers from summer movie ridiculousness.  If you can get past the story and just enjoy the action, then hop onto Marine One to see how far this angel has fallen.  It’s a fun ride to take, but maybe one that should be enjoyed at home (preferably with a good sound system for some of those effects)!

Rent it.

Review: Cold Case Hammarskjöld

Release date: August 16, 2019
Running time: 128 minutes
Starring:  Mads Brügger, Göran Björkdahl 

Cold Case Hammarskjöld is a documentary that looks into the 1961 death of Dag Hammarskjöld, the Secretary General of the United Nations.  Hammarskjöld's death came at a time when he was tirelessly seeking independence for African nations, a policy that was at odds with many of the traditional colonial powers.  His death seemed to happen abruptly with a lackluster investigation quickly concluding that it was an accident.  Almost half a century later, after 6 years of investigating the case, Göran Björkdahl uncovers many new clues and previously undocumented information about this case.  Together with journalist Mads Brügger, the pair try to shed some light on Hammarskjöld's death.

Cold Case Hammarskjöld has an unconventional style.  Instead of traditional documentary tactics, this film has Brügger dictating much of the film to two secretaries he hires to transcribe his words.  It is an odd choice, one that I think was there to provide some human interaction in the early parts of this film, but it comes off as just weird.  The director himself is quirky and some of that quirk shines through the film.  It can be funny at times, odd at other times, and occasionally slightly tone deaf .  That being said, it does provide for some entertaining moments in what could be a very dry subject.  Additionally, the film includes animated sequences that repeat often.  This gives a low budget feel to what should be an absolute highlight of the movie.

The film itself provides an interesting look at an old case that many may have not heard of.  It goes in depth into this case, but also uses that as a jumping off point to delve into a related conspiracy.  It seems far-fetched at time and outright insane at others.  Additionally, with the way the film was crafted, there are far too convenient characters that enter the story when they need to.  This was probably to keep the audience guessing, but the main reveal seems too fortuitous.  In any event, the film does raise a lot of new questions about Hammarskjöld's death, some of which are apparently being investigated to this day.  And the film does shed light on a topic that was a big deal when it happened, but many today might not have heard of.  

Overall it is a documentary that is either a complete fabrication or an insane conspiracy.  However, the long run time and odd directorial choices make this a film that could be enjoyed at home.  

Rent it

What to Watch This Weekend: August 16, 2019

In Theaters: Blinded By The Light
Blinded By The Light is the inspiring true story about following one’s dreams and unlikely passions.  Our review said that “[t]hose hoping to chase their dreams should watch this and just might find a Reason to Believe.”  

At Redbox: Avengers: Endgame
The culmination of this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally available on disc and if you haven’t seen it, this is a good one.  It ties together innumerable story threads and perfectly tackles the unimaginable task of blending several distinct movie styles and very different characters into one coherent and amazing conclusion.  

Streaming (HBO): Widows

If you didn’t check out the Kitchen or did but want to see the movie that it is very similar to, check out Widows on HBO.  It is another strong female-drive crime film that shares many similarities with the recently released theatrical film.  

Streaming (Netflix): Ralph Breaks the Internet
The follow up to the strange, feel good movie Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph breaks the internet takes our friends to a whole new connected world.  It has some really funny moments involving culture today, as well as a very funny Disney sequence that should not be missed.  

Review: Angry Birds Movie 2

Release date: August 14, 2019
Running time: 96 minutes
Starring:  Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones 

The popular Rovio mobile game turned movie gets a sequel in The Angry Birds Movie 2.  This time, the birds and pigs have an unlikely truce due to the discovery of a new island bent on the destruction of the home islands of both the birds and the pigs.  The film reintroduces us to the main characters of the first film, while adding several new fun birds and pigs to keep the movie feeling fresh.

The first thing you’ll notice in the movie is the animation.  It is really fun and surprisingly captures the style of the mobile game.  The characters are brightly animated, and the environments are varied and beautiful.  The voice acting is very good, with some funny cameos by recognizable actors making the characters instantly like able.  And the film has some good lessons for young and old alike.  

However, the film is a little too disjointed, with a sort of sketch comedy feel at times.  The characters cut back and forth between situations and some of them are funny, some of them are just odd.  That being said, there are definitely plenty of laugh out loud moments.  And although I enjoyed the jokes, some of the humor is a little inappropriate for kids and might lead to some interesting conversations.  Additionally, for a game released at the end of the first decade of the 2000s, there are a ton of 90s references.  I really enjoyed them but I also didn’t know why they appeared and contributed to the disjointed feeling of the film.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 takes the unenviable task of following on to the unlikely movie based on the mobile game.  It is a fun adventure that is at times laugh out loud funny, but also a little too disjointed.

Rent it.

Review: Blinded by the Light

Release date: August 14, 2019

Running time: 117 minutes

Starring:  Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra

Blinded By The Light—based on a true story—follows Javed, a young British-Pakistani aspiring writer as he grows up in the city of Luton, England. The movie follows the problems of a young Pakistani boy in the 1980s, from racism to vandalism and even physical and mental harm.  Javed uses his poetry as a means to escape from all of these negatives.  Javed is joined by his best friend Matt, who in his eyes has the perfect life: a wealthy family, a rock band, and a girlfriend.  Despite their very different personas, the two find common ground in Javed’s lyrics, which are inspired by the challenges he sees around him.  Javed eventually finds his way to university and fortuitously discovers the artist that will change his life.  

The story behind Blinded by the Light is filled with emotion, good music, and chasing your dreams.  Javed channels the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen’s music to find hope, courage, motivation, and a positive consciousness.  Javed idolizes Bruce and uses his music to fuel his own ambition.  

Blinded by the Light really pulls at the heart strings and should appeal to those who hope to follow their dreams. Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics not only provide an amazing soundtrack but a message of hope for the audience. Javed’s true story is inspiring and watching this film might make you a fan of The Boss whether you are familiar with his music or not. 

Blinded By the Light is an inspiring feel good movie following an unlikely fan finding inspiration and meaning in his life.  Those hoping to chase their dreams should watch this and just might find a Reason to Believe. 

Watch it.

Review: Good Boys

Release date: August 16, 2019
Running time: 89 minutes
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Molly Gordon, Will Forte

GOOD BOYS tells the story of three childhood friends that go on an epic journey, and in the process they grow up.  Oh, and it also has a bunch of raunchy comedy, sex toys, and silly drug humor.  Basically what you would expect from the billing: "From the guys that brought you Superbad, Neighbors, and Sausage Party."  Think, Stand By Me but dirty.  

The main draw of the film is the friendship between the main boys, or "The Beanbag Boys" as they call themselves.  The interactions between the three are fun to watch, but each of the characters is essentially a kid stereotype and they don't stray far from those molds.  Although the characters do grow throughout the movie, their main personalities stay the same.  That being said, sometimes the interactions are laugh out loud funny, and other times it feels like the same old shtick that you've seen before.

The journey the kids go on does have plenty of twists and turns, with their convoluted journey leading to all sorts of absurd and ridiculous situations.  And although the locales are not exotic or particularly varied, there is enough variety that it keeps the film interesting.  The humor is funny if not particularly memorable and the other characters are not bad, but similar to the main boys, pretty one dimensional.  And on top of the one dimensional characters and jokes that feel like you've heard them again, the overall journey itself just isn't that memorable.  

GOOD BOYS is a fun journey with plenty of laughs that you won't be disappointed in taking from the comfort of your couch.  

Rent it.

Review: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

Release date: August 9, 2019

Running time: 111 minutes

Starring:  Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush

Inspired by the iconic series of horror tales by Alvin Schwartz, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark takes us to 1969 in the small town of Mill Valley, Pennsylvania.  The movie follows a group of high school kids led by Stella Nicholls (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and her friends Auggie Hilderbrandt (Gabriel Rush) and Chuck Steinberg (Austin Zajur).  The teens are preparing for their Halloween night, which involves a little bit of mischief and eventually a whole lot of horror.  Stella decides to explore the Bellows mansion, which leads to more of an adventure than any of the kids can imagine: the kids discover a mysterious book that makes a different scary story come to life every night!

If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you know these stories.  The best thing about this movie is that it stays true to these books, which is an amazing feat since the filmmakers converted a series of short stories into a movie.  You will instantly recognize the illustrations that unnerved you as a kid, and those scary stories are augmented by an equally horrifying score.  And despite the horror and jump scares, this film manages to barely stay in the PG-13 rating.  

Despite the great imagery that the movie invokes, the film does seem to run a bit long.  With a runtime of almost 2 hours, at times it seems like the movie focuses more on character development than on action and horror. Also, the horror might scare a teenager, but an adult might be underwhelmed by the scares this film provides.  If you are a loyal fan of the books, then you will want to check this movie out just for nostalgia purposes, but a casual fan might want to hold off and wait to see it on video. 

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark brings the classic horror short stories to life on the big screen.  It’s a great feat, but the long run time and mild scares might make this a better story too tell at home. 

Rent it.

Review: The Kitchen

Release date: August 9, 2019

Running time: 111 minutes

Starring:  Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss 

The Kitchen, directed by Andrea Berloff and based on the DC Comics Vertigo series, is a new film that follows three women in New York that take over an organized crime syndicate.  Set in Hell’s Kitchen, Kathy Brennan (Melissa McCarthy), Ruby O'Carroll (Tiffany Haddish), and Claire Walsh (Elisabeth Moss struggle to survive after their husbands are locked up. The film chronicles the challenges that they face and what they do in order to take over Hell’s Kitchen. The three ladies all have different backgrounds and they realize early on that they are better off working together and taking advantage of their strengths.

The first thing you’ll notice when watching this movie is that while most gang films set in this time—such as American Gangster—focus on the drug dealing business, this film focuses on the protagonists’ protection of their neighborhood. The next thing you’ll notice is the acting; although McCarthy and Haddish are known for their comedic roles, these two along with Moss completely embrace their serious personas.  However, despite the generally serious tone of the movie, there is still room for these characters to have the occasional comedic moment.  The supporting cast is also very enjoyable, especially Domhnall Gleeson.  The story also has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.  And the soundtrack really helps to emphasize the scenes and tone of the film; it is something you won’t really notice unless you pay attention to it!  

The one thing I didn’t love about this movie is that it felt too similar to last year’s Widows. Like Widows, this movie has female leads with strong acting and interesting roles.  And like Widows it is interesting to see female leads dealing with the issues of the criminal underworld.  

The Kitchen turns up the heat with a strong cast, plenty of twists and turns, and a soundtrack that sets the mood.  If you can’t handle the heat, get out of these ladies way!

Watch it.

What to Watch This Weekend: August 9, 2019

In Theaters: Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
The movie adaptation of the classic children's tales is a faithful recreation that manages a delicate balance of spooky and funny.  It keeps the classic stories but updates them with modern movie techniques and Guillermo del Toro's fantastic vision.  

At Redbox: Detective Pikachu
Speaking of adapting childhood classics, Detective Pikachu brings the Pokemon universe to life with a live action adaptation of the Pokemon universe.  The movie has cameos from many of your favorite Pokemon, but the real driving force here is the fantastic partnership of Justice Smith and Ryan Reynolds. 

Streaming (HBO): The Favourite

The funny, dark, but all around wonderful rivalry between Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz makes the Favourite an engaging royal story.  The story is over the top, the acting is phenomenal, and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep you watching no matter who you root for. 

Streaming (Vudu - Free with Ads): The Founder
Michael Keaton's biographically based drama gives you a look at the founder of the world's most famous food chain and the ruthless and inspiring way he revolutionized both food and business.  The movie is not a happy meal, but the story of the Golden Arch's founder will give you a new perspective on the famous brand.

Screening: WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE

WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE

In theaters August 16^th

Rated: PG-13

Run time: 107 minutes

www.bernadette.film

Based on the runaway bestseller, WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE is an inspiring comedy about Bernadette Fox (Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett), a loving mom who becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Bernadette’s leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery.  

Screening Details:

Tuesday, August 13 - 7:00PM

AMC Loews Georgetown

3111 K Street, NW

Washington, DC

Screening Link: http://www.gofobo.com/VszWZ82036

Be sure to Like and Follow Watch or Pass and share with your friends!

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.

Screening: DON’T LET GO

In theatres nationwide August 30^th, 2019

Official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G4QuUXlLCk

#DontLetGo

In Don’t Let Go, detective Jack Radcliff (Oyelowo) gets a shocking phone call from his recently murdered

niece Ashley (Reid). Working together across time, they race to solve her murder

before it can happen.

Distributor: Blumhouse Tilt, Universal’s OTL Releasing and Briarcliff Entertainment

Starring: David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Mykelti Williamson, Brian Tyree Henry, Shinelle Azoroh,

Byron Mann, April Grace and Alfred Molina

Directed By: Jacob Estes

Screenplay By: Jacob Estes

Story By: Jacob Estes and Drew Daywalt

Producers: Jason Blum, Bobby Cohen

Screening Details:

Monday, August 26^th

7:00PM

Regal Gallery Place

How to Enter:

If you would like to enter for an admit-two pass, please enter via the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to Like and Follow Watch or Pass and share with your friends!

As always, screenings are first-come, first-served so please arrive early to ensure you get a seat.